A Coventry Kid's Tale

Chapter 12: THE LAST YEAR AT FREDDIE'S

On with the learning. The girls all had a rating. No.1 was Diane jelly, No.2 was Yvonne James, and so on. The child cannot not remember all the names (could if he wanted but better if he didn't). One day in the main hall the child bumped into Yvonne, who for want of anything to say asked her out. "When?" replied Yvonne. Gobsmacked, the child said when and where. "Is it alright if I bring along Diane Jelly as well?" said Yvonne. "Of course" said the child, thinking two's better than one. Remembering what his parents had said about bringing a girlfriend home that's where he invited them to. The night arrived and the child took them home. What a shock waited for the child!!!!! Upon entering the sitting room, there sat the "something" reading a book!!!!!! What a disaster. With a solemn face the something sat there all evening. Yvonne and Diane must have felt sorry for the child for they said nothing, but the child could not get out quick enough. Walking Diane back home to Swan Lane and saying goodnight to her, Yvonne and the child then caught the buzz up to Holbrooks, after a good walk of course. This was the last buzz out so the child would have to catch it back. Walking across the road from the buzz stop they went down Whitmore Park Road, across the crossroad and into Selworthy Road, where Yvonne lived. By now the child realised he had missed the last buzz home. It was worth it. What a kiss, the poor child nearly passed out for want of oxygen to his lungs. Saying goodnight the child started his long walk home. Being that embarrassed about the something, the child never asked Yvonne out again.

Back at school things were getting busy. A new teacher had arrived to take over P.E., Mr. Cheesley. Out went football and in came rugger. After everybody had been given a trial the first 15 were picked. The child was to be the "fly half". This did not last very long as the child always wanted to be where the ball was, so he was made "left prop" instead. This suited the child for now he could get his hands on the ball. Mind you, it did not come without its dangers. Diving at the legs of the opponents with a rugger tackle the child used to love, but seeing how close his face was to the studs on the boots it's a wonder the child still has his teeth.
Another first for the child was permission to go on his own on cross country runs. This he enjoyed, four miles was his average run. Leaving the school gates the child would run up Swan Lane then along Swancroft Road then Valley Road into the Morris common, four times around the common (with a fag break behind the toilets) and then back the way he had come. This he did twice a week every week. On returning from one of these runs the child was very surprised to see Pamela Green waiting in Swan Lane. The child had thought she was in New Zealand but she had come to say cheerio to the child as they were leaving the following week. The child said his farewell, watched her walk away, and then he returned back to his learning.